Chennai: Strengthening business ties with British companies and expanding the operations of firms already present in Tamil Nadu are among the main objectives of Chief Minister Vijay's visit to Britain, the state government said on Thursday.

In a statement, the government said investment agreements worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore had been signed through investor meetings during the first 100 days of the TVK government.

It said multinational companies from European countries had proposed projects worth Rs 8,491 crore in Tamil Nadu, which are expected to create 5,690 jobs.

British companies have had a long-standing presence in Tamil Nadu in sectors including engineering, financial services and technology. Several of these companies operate manufacturing facilities and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in the state.

The Chief Minister's visit is aimed at strengthening these business relationships and encouraging existing companies to expand their operations in Tamil Nadu, the government said. It added that the initiative could help create more high-quality employment opportunities in the state.

The government also linked the visit to the Chief Minister's plan to establish a world-class motorsports city in Tamil Nadu.

As part of this effort, Vijay is scheduled to visit the Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit in Britain to study international motorsports infrastructure and understand global best practices, the statement said.

A delegation led by the Chief Minister left Chennai on Wednesday for Britain and is scheduled to return on September 17.

The delegation includes Public Works Minister Aadav Arjuna, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) Member Secretary Meghnatha Reddy, Guidance Tamil Nadu Director Deepak Jacob and other government officials.